In Australia, if a friend says, “I finally asked for help”, replying “Good on you” is genuine praise: you are saying that they did well and that you support them. It does not mean that the action was simply beneficial for them. The expression informally and warmly recognises someone’s effort, decision or courage to act.
A: I finally spoke to my manager about it.
B: Good on you. That wasn’t easy.
You can add the reason, as in “Good on you for speaking up”. A Chinese speaker might try “You are very good”, but that sounds like a broad assessment of someone’s ability or character rather than a response to a particular action. “Well done” is also correct, although it can sometimes sound more like an evaluation from a superior.
American English more often uses “Good for you” or “That’s great”, while “Good on you” feels more natural in Australia. Either expression can become sarcastic if delivered with the wrong tone, so sincere praise still depends on sounding natural and warm.
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/good%20on%20%28someone%29
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/good-for
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